The Veterans Community Advisory Committee is a place for veterans and/or their families to share their thoughts and experiences on Illinois legislation and how it affects military veterans, their families, and communities. We look forward to seeing you to discuss the concerns you have for the veteran community and to discuss ideas on how to work toward improvements.
This event will be virtual and registration is required. A Virtual Meeting link will be sent the day before the event. At this fall meeting, in order to prepare for the Spring 2027 Session, we will discuss any recent hardships or trends that veterans are experiencing and ways that Illinois may be able to help.
On August 7th of 2026 the Administration of Children and Families (ACF) released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), Reducing Federal Burden for Head Start Programs (RIN 0970-AD30). Head Start is an essential high-quality early learning program that has been providing services to children and their families to promote school success and readiness for over 60 years. The proposed regulation would rob over 700,000 of our youth every year of critical opportunities not only for their futures but also the future of out country!
All kids deserve a strong start in life. As a former early childhood educator, and Vice-Chair of the House Child Care Accessibility & Early Childhood Education Committee, I know the value of quality standards and essential services for children and families in Head Start. That’s why I am proud to have joined 360+ lawmakers from around the country in strongly opposing Trump’s latest attacks on this critical early childhood development program.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is dedicated to inspiring a love of reading by gifting books free of charge to children from birth to age five, through funding shared by Dolly Parton and local community partners in the United States. Inspired by her father’s inability to read and write Dolly started her Imagination Library in 1995 for the children within her home county. Today, her program spans five countries and gifts millions of free books each month to children around the world.
Families with children under 5 years old can register now to receive a free book every month.
WEST CHICAGO, Ill.— State Rep. Maura Hirschauer, D-West Chicago, joined legislators nationwide to file two separate comments opposing the Office of Management and Budget’s Proposed Rule to revamp the federal grant process.
“Through this change in the OMB grant process, the federal government would take control over the research that non-profit organizations and scientists do in their areas of interest,” said Hirschauer. “With educational research being prohibited on what the federal administration considers to be ‘anti-American values,’ they’re actively going against the First Amendment and forcing agencies to abide by prescribed ideologies.”
The first joint comment signed by Hirschauer joined a coalition of 55 state legislators from 23 states and argued the Proposed Rule could wreak havoc on state budgets and economies.
Since state legislators authorize multi-year capital programs, appropriate state funds, enact state budgets, and are constitutionally required to balance them, the Proposed Rule would have a significant and harmful fiscal impact on states.
State legislators establish, fund and oversee the state agencies that administer federal awards and pass federal dollars through to local governments, school districts, public universities, housing authorities and community organizations. If the Proposed Rule comes into play, it would give federal agencies broad new powers to terminate, suspend or deny grant awards to states for partisan reasons, which could destabilize states’ funding streams and undermine states’ abilities to plan and deliver essential services. The full comment and signatories are available here.
The second joint letter highlighted the harm this rule change would cause for historically underserved communities and the undermining of programs that are specifically designed to address unmet needs and expand opportunity. In signing this letter Hirschauer joined a coalition of 199 legislators from all 50 states; The full comment and signatures are available here.
In Illinois, the Proposed Rule would create funding disruptions for local programs and community-based organizations and destabilize child care and economic security programs that support underserved communities.
No-cost early education programs in Illinois, like Head Start, could lose funding and have reductions in services because their curriculum, which is required to implement diverse and equitable educational programming, would now be considered the “anti-American” and “woke” values the Federal administration is penalizing.
“Federal grants should be dependent on the needs of our community. These grants play a critical role for the health and wellbeing of families in the 49th district and of the communities themselves. I strongly oppose this unjust and discriminatory change.”
Rep. Maura Hirschauer
(D-Batavia) 49th District
Springfield Office: 270-S Stratton Office Building Springfield, IL 62706 (217) 782-1653
District Office: 946 Neltnor Blvd #104 West Chicago IL 60185
We are grateful to have had incredibly passionate and skilled interns working with us over the years. A result of these passions: detailed resource guides for you! Check out and then bookmark these guides that have been developed to assist you.
To promote greater financial transparency, Representative Hirschauer’s team has compiled the most frequently requested and widely used resources currently available to the public.
Our office is best suited to assist with issues and concerns with State agencies, but can help you find the local resources you need. This list contains public and non-profit organizations serving constituents locally.
Illinois has more units of local government than any state in the US. While change are considered, the fact is that this makes navigation tough. Check our this guide for contact info for the main units in and around District 49.
*note that some of these elected officials will change pending results of the November election. We will update once new info is available.
These are the resources– that made us say, “I wish I’d known about that earlier.” Local and state resources for higher education with sections geared toward first-generation college students, definitions, apprenticeships, and more! This guide is still being updated but we wanted to get the basics out there!
These basic principles hold, but details change frequently due to federal changes. We encourage you to visit the linked organizations for further and regularly-updated information.
With the start of the new school year approaching, State Rep. Maura Hirschauer, D-West Chicago, is encouraging parents to take advantage of the Back-to-School State Tax Holiday on school supplies, clothing, shoes and other items over a 10-day period, starting this Friday, Aug. 7 through Aug. 16.
“As a parent and former teacher, I know how expensive it can be to gather supplies for the upcoming school year,” said Hirschauer. “That’s why, down in Springfield, I worked diligently with my colleagues to support a state sales tax holiday that’ll help parents and teachers pay less on the necessities their students need for school.”
Starting this Friday, Aug. 7, the state’s sales tax will drop from 6.25% down to 1.25% on common back-to-school items, such as:
Clothes and school uniforms
Shoes, boots and sandals
Seasonal apparel, including coats, rain jackets, swimwear, hats and gloves
School and office supplies, including paper, pens and pencils, calculators and writing tablets
Backpacks and lunchboxes
And more!
Some exclusions apply. To view a thorough list of applicable items and exclusions, visit the Illinois Department of Revenue at: https://tax.illinois.gov/research/publications/bulletins/fy-2026-30.html.
“Our students deserve quality supplies in their classrooms, and I hope parents and teachers are able to take advantage of this opportunity to buy school necessities at a discounted price,” said Hirschauer.
Students may find one-on-one academic advising by talking to their local ISACorps member. Through ISACorps mentoring, high school students may speak to recent college graduates about the college application process. Find the ISACorps member in your area at: https://www.isac.org/students/before-college/isacorps/members.html
Disability Accommodations
Illinois TRiO service make obtaining a college education possible for all. The Objectives of TRiO are to:
Service the needs and interests of (1) students, faculty, and administrators in institutions of higher education, and (2) individuals in public and private agencies and organizations concerned with or engaged in the support and/or administration of TRIO and Educational Opportunity Programs (EOP) by promoting and facilitating the coordination of educational opportunites and by advising and assisting in the promotion and development of positve program implementation.
Promote and facilitate communication between instutions of higher education and the sponsors of student aid funds.
To stimulate, promote, and conduct systematic studies and research, cooperative experiments, education, conferences, and such other related activities as are desirable or necessary to fulfill the purposes of the Chapter.
Accommodation offices exist at all Illinois’ campuses, but may vary slightly from campus to campus. To learn more about TRiO, visit https://www.illinoistrio.org/.
Add/Drop Period: students who start taking a class and discover they don’t like it or need a different class can “add” or “drop” them during the add/drop period. Students who drop but don’t add a class may have to do so by a certain deadline in order to get their money back for that class. They may only be allowed to add a class during a certain period at the beginning of the term (colleges may not want students to take a course when they have missed a lot of classes by adding it late). If students leave a class after the add/drop deadline, their transcript may say “W/P” meaning that they were passing when they withdrew from the class, or “W/F” if they were failing it at that time
Bursar’s Office: office at the university that is involved with billing and student accounts
Core (or distribution or general education) Requirements: many colleges have a list of the kinds of courses students have to take in order to graduate (look for these online). These often include one or two composition (writing) courses, and they may include two classes in social science, two in humanities, two in science, etc. There are often a number of classes to choose from in order to satisfy these requirements. Students should look online for class rating sites (like ratemyprofessors.com) to see what other students say about different courses at their school so that they can have some information to help them choose from the options available
Liberal Arts: schools that are considered to be “liberal arts” colleges usually offer degrees in literature, philosophy, economics, political science but also offer degrees in science and math fields. Some see the liberal arts schools as those where the faculty members focus on teaching of undergraduate students, rather than research
Pass/Fail Option: sometimes, students can take a challenging class they need to without worrying about the grade affecting their GPA– they can choose this option and simply have to pass the class in order for it to count for credit – students may have to choose this option when they register (i.e., they can’t wait to see how they’re doing and then decide to go pass/fail). This option may not be available for courses required to complete the college’s core requirements or the requirements for students’ major or minor
Pre-requisites: classes that students have to take before they are allowed to take a certain higher-level class or enter a program to pursue a certain major. For instance, students who want to enter an engineering program might have to take (and earn a certain grade in) physics
Work-Study: some students earn financial aid in this way – they take a job on campus in order to get this money for their tuition (their wages are applied to their tuition bill to pay it down). Students may be able to choose their desired work-study job from a list, so students who want a better chance to get a job they like (rather than choosing from whatever is left over) should ask early about the opportunities available and sign up
Tips for communicating with professors:
Before you decide to reach out;
Read the course syllabus first, many general questions will have been premtively addressed
Check the course website, i.e. Canvas
Use professional email conduct
Email from your student account
Explain your questions clearly
Professionaly format the email using polite language and proper grammer
Attend office hours
Be honest about any struggles you may be having in the class
Use any and all campus resources
TRiO offers support for Illinois first generation students. For more information, visit: https://www.illinoistrio.org/
Completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is mandatory for high school graduation in the state of Illinois. The FAFSA form opens on October 1st and is due June 30th at 11:59 P.M. CST. It is highly recommeded that you fill out the FAFSA as soon as possible.
Your federal income tax return (accessible online)
Records of recieved child support
Records of your assets
List of schools you’re interested in attending
College Application Essay Advice
The majority of colleges and universitys require students to submit an application essay as part of their overall application. This essay typically has a 250 word minimum and 650 word maximum length. Application essays are formatted as personal statements that are meant to display growth, vulnerability, writing skills, and the applicants core values. Common essay categories include; overcoming specific challenges or failures, a major event that changed your view of life, a uniqe skill that defines you, or a topic that makes you so curious that you loose track of time.
The CSS profile is a non-federal student aid application that applies to about 270 private universites. The CSS Profile opens on October 1st, deadlines vary based on the specific school(s) you are applying to. The CSS Profile must be sent to each school you are applying for individually through the CSS Portal.
Needed documents:
Most recent federal tax returns
W-2 forms
Records of current year income
Records of untaxed income & benefits
Records of assets
Bank statesments for you and your parents (if applicable)
Map Grant eligibilty is determined based on the information submitted in a student’s FAFSA and does not requrie an additional application. Undocumented stuends who do not qualify for the FAFSA may apply for the MAP Grant using the Alternative Application.
MAP Grant eligibility:
Must be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen or meet the RISE Act criteria
Must be an Illinois resident or the dependent of an Illinois resident
Must demonstrate financial need
Must be enrolled a minimum of 3 hours per term at an approved Illinois college in a degree or certificate program
Must maintain satisfactory academic progress as determinded by individual colleges
Must not be in default on any student loan or owe a refund on any state or federal grant
Continue working on supplemental essays for early applications
Request high school transcript
Ask teachers for all necessary letters of recommendation (do this as early as possible)
October 1st:
FAFSA opens
CSS Profile opens
November 1st-15th:
Early Action and Early Decision deadlines (exact dates depend on the school)
Mid-December:
Early Action and Early Decision results are released
Continue working on essays for regular applications
January 1st-15th:
Regular Decision deadlines (exact dates depend on the school)
February – March:
Rolling decision results are released
March – April:
Regular Decision admission results & financial aid packages are released
May 1st:
Students choose which school to commit to
College Application Vocabulary
Additional information section: a section on most college applications that applicants may use to explain important context for their application, such as significant struggles, interruptions in their academic lives, or other external factors
Admission tests: standardized entrance exams (such as the SAT and ACT) used by universities to measure a student’s readiness for college-level work and compare applicants across different high schools
Articulation agreement: an agreement between two schools that explains how earned credits will transfer from one school to the other (used by students who transfer schools)
Candidates reply date agreement: a standard policy that gives students until May 1 to accept or decline an offer of admission at each college they are accepted into
Class rank: a numerical measure that compares your cumulative grade point average (GPA) and course rigor against the other students in your graduating class
Coalition Application: a centralized online platform used by over 150 colleges and universities in the United States that allows students to apply to multiple schools
Common Application: a standardized online platform that allows students to apply to more than 1,100 colleges and universities worldwide (most common application program)
Deferred admission: a decision in which a university postpones a final decision on an early applicant, choosing to reevaluate them later with the regular decision applicants
Demonstrated interest: a metric colleges use to measure how actively and enthusiastically a student engages with their school before applying
Early Action (EA): a non-binding college application process that lets students apply early (usually by November 1st) and receive their admission decision early (typically by mid-December), without being forced to commit
Early Decision (ED): a binding college application process that allows students to apply early (usually by November 1st) to one top school, which they commit to attending if admitted (typically raises admission chances significantly)
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid): the official form students submit to apply for financial assistance to pay for college or career school (required by most colleges & is a graduation requirement in Illinois)
Financial aid: money given or loaned to help pay for college, whether from the government, a specific college, or a private organization
Legacy applicant: an applicant who has a close family member (typically a parent or grandparent) who graduated from the same institution the student is applying to
Need-blind admission: a policy in which a college does not consider your family’s financial situation or ability to pay when deciding whether to offer you admission
Open admission: an acceptance policy where a college admits every student who has a high school diploma or GED, without factoring in high school grades, GPA, or SAT/ACT test scores
Personal statement: a narrative college application essay received by every college you apply to that lets admissions officers understand the values, skills, interests, and qualities you bring to that campus and community
Placement tests: tests used by colleges that measure the academic skills needed for college-level work and help determine what classes a student is ready for
Priority date/deadline: the date by which your application must be received to be given the strongest consideration.
Registrar: the college official who registers students, keeps permanent records, and maintains all student files
Rolling admission: an admission policy of considering each application as soon as all required information has been received, rather than setting an application deadline and reviewing applications all together
Sophomore standing: having earned enough college credits (typically 30 semester hours) to be classified as a second-year student rather than a freshman upon entry into a college
Supplemental essays: additional, school-specific essays required alongside the personal statement in many applications
Transfer student: a student who enrolls in a college after having attended another college
Waitlist: a status meaning you meet the school’s academic and personal requirements, but the admissions office cannot offer you an immediate spot because the incoming class is currently full
Community College vs. Four Year Universities
Community colleges typically offer two-year associate degrees and certificate programs, have lower tuition, and often have open admissions policies, making them an affordable and accessible option for many students. In contrast, four-year universities offer bachelor’s degrees as well as graduate programs, usually have more selective admissions requirements, and provide a traditional college experience with on-campus housing, athletics, student organizations, research opportunities, and a wider variety of academic majors. Many students choose to begin at a community college to save money and complete general education courses before transferring to a four-year university to earn a bachelor’s degree.
Grants and scholarships are both forms of aid that do not need to be repaid, grants are based on financial aid while scholarships are based on merit [academic excellence, special talents, athletic ability].
Direct Subsidized Loans: For undergraduate students that have demonstrated financial need; government pays interest
Direct Unsubsidized Loans: Government backed loan for graduate and undergraduate that does not require proof of financial need. You are responsible for all interest from the moment of disbursement
Federal PLUS loans: Available to graduate/professional students or parents of dependent undergraduate students to cover up the remaining cost of total attendance.
Private Student Loans: Offered by banks or specialized lenders that can cover 100% of the schools certified cost of attendance.
What is a Work-Study Program?
Work-study programs are part-time or on-campus jobs that allows you to earn money to help pay for educational expenses.
FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. It gives students (and parents of students under the age of 18) the right to access their education records, request corrections to inaccurate records, and control most disclosures of their records without consent. In general, colleges may not share grants, transcripts, or disciplinary records without the student’s permission.
Title IX
Title IX is a ferderal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in edcuational programs receiving federal funding. It protects students from sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating or domestic violence, stalking, and pregnancy/parenting discrimination. Schools must investigatge complaints and provide supportive measures to protect affected students.
Disability Accommodations (ADA)
The Americans with disabilites Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act require schools to provide equal access for qualified students with disabilties. Common accommodations include; extended test time, note-taking assistance, accessible classrooms or housing, assistive technology, and flexible attendance or assignment deadlines when appropriate. Students usually must register with the school’s disablity service office and provide documentation.
Academic Appeals
Most colleges allows tudents to appeal certain academic decisions. These decisions may include; final grades, academic dismissal, academic suspension, denial of admission to a program, and academic integrity findings. The appeal process typically requuires a written explanation, supporting evidence of documentation, and submission within a specified deadine. Appeals are reviewed accorind to the insitution’s published policies.
“As a working mom, I’m at the grocery store every other day. I know that affordability is top of mind for all Illinoisans because I feel it too. Washington is failing to meet this moment. That’s why I’m working diligently in Springfield to pass legislation that creates a better path for Illinois, because we deserve better than what Washington is offering.”
A Better Path for Illinois
This session I made affordability, community safety, and protecting the common good a priority. Everyone in our community—whatever their political opinions—deserves more from Washington than we are getting. Our budgets are getting tighter, our expenses are getting higher, and our rights are getting chipped away.
We don’t have to accept Washington’s fevered vision where everything gets more expensive and every day feels like a struggle. I am fighting for a better path for Illinois, and I am proud to share the legislation that I passed this session bills with you:
Stopping AI-powered schemes that raise prices of groceries and everyday purchases. The Algorithmic Price Prohibition Act which will ensure fairness and transparency for Illinois consumers. Your browsing history and digital footprint should not become a tool to charge you more. This nation-leading bill bans the practice of surveillance pricing in Illinois.
Supportingveterans’ mental health by continuing the Breakthrough Therapies for Veterans Suicide Prevention Program Advisory Council within the Department of Public Health. It is our duty to protect the mental health of those who dedicated their lives to our safety and security.
Investing in our critical early childhood workforce by allowing Head Start and Early Head Start programs to participate in the Smart Child Care Workforce Compensation Program. We must support the workforce behind the workforce for our communities to thrive.
Addressing the intersection of mental health and gun violence by mandating training on mental health reporting and FOID for mental health practitioners.
Strengthening orders of protection so abusers can’t access confiscated firearms from third-party services to provoke or harm others.
Additional Bills:
House Bill 4309 – Establishes an annual proclamation by the Governor for POW/MIA Recognition Day, the 3rd Friday in September each year. Passed the House – Read More Here
House Bill 5313 – Removes several provisions requiring HFS to establish benchmarks to reduce hospital readmissions, inpatient complications, and unnecessary emergency room visits to bring HFS into statutory consistency with the modern Medicaid managed care environment. Passed the House
House Bill 4566 – Establishes the Natural Resource Restoration Trust Grant Program which will provide grants to communities for the purpose of restoring natural resources. Passed the House – Read More Here
“Como madre trabajadora, voy al supermercado cada, otro día. Sé que la asequibilidad es una de las principales preocupaciones de todos los habitantes de Illinois, porque yo también me siento así. Washington está fallando en afrontar este momento. Por eso, estoy trabajando con diligencia en Springfield para aprobar leyes que abran un camino mejor para Illinois, porque nos merecemos algo mejor de lo que nos ofrece Washington.”
Un Mejor Camino para Illinois
En esta sesión, he priorizado la asequibilidad, la seguridad de la comunidad y la protección del bien común. Todos los miembros de nuestra comunidad – independientemente de sus opiniones políticas – merecen más de Washington de lo que estamos recibiendo. Nuestros presupuestos son cada vez más ajustados, nuestros gastos no dejan de aumentar y nuestros derechos están siendo socavados.
No tenemos que aceptar la visión fanática de Washington en la que todo se vuelve más caro y cada día se siente más difícil. Estoy luchando por un futuro mejor para Illinois, y me enorgullece compartir con ustedes los proyectos de ley que he aprobado en esta sesión:
Poniendo fin a las prácticas basadas en la inteligencia artificial que elevan los precios de los alimentos y los productos de uso diario. La Ley de Prohibición de los Precios Algorítmicos garantizará la equidad y la transparencia para los consumidores de Illinois. Tu historial de búsqueda y tu huella digital no deben convertirse en una herramienta para cobrarte más. Este proyecto de ley, líder a nivel nacional, prohíbe la práctica de los precios de vigilancia en Illinois.
Apoyando la salud mental de los veteranos mediante la continuación del Consejo Asesor del Programa de Terapias Innovadoras para la Prevención del Suicidio entre los Veteranos, dentro del Departamento de Salud Pública. Es nuestro deber proteger la salud mental de quienes dedicaron sus vidas por nuestra seguridad y protección.
Invirtiendo en nuestro personal de primera línea dedicado a la primera infancia al permitir que los programas Head Start y Early Head Start participen en el Programa de Compensación para el Personal de Cuidado Infantil – Smart Child Care. Debemos apoyar al personal que está detrás de todo el personal para que nuestras comunidades puedan prosperar.
Atendiendo la intersección entre la salud mental y la violencia armada mediante el entrenamiento sobre la salud mental y la licencia FOID para los profesionales de la salud mental.
Reforzando las órdenes de protección para que los abusadores no puedan acceder a las armas confiscadas a través de servicios terceros con el fin de intimidar o dañar a otros.
Más sobre los proyectos de ley en que estoy trabajando:
House Bill 4309– Establece una proclamación anual por parte del Gobernador para el Día de Reconocimiento de los Prisioneros de Guerra y Desaparecidos en Acción (POW/MIA), que se celebrará el tercer viernes de septiembre de cada año. Aprobado en la Cámara de Representantes – Lea más aquí
House Bill 5313 – Elimina varias disposiciones que exigen que el Departamento de Servicios de Salud y Familia (HFS) establezca parámetros de referencia para reducir los reingresos hospitalarios, las complicaciones durante la hospitalización y las visitas innecesarias a las salas de emergencia, con el fin de armonizar la ley con el entorno moderno de atención administrada de Medicaid. Aprobado por la Cámara de Representantes.
House Bill 4566 – Establece el Programa de Subvenciones del Fondo Fiduciario para la Restauración de los Recursos Naturales, que otorgará subvenciones a las comunidades con el propósito de restaurar los recursos naturales. Aprobado por la Cámara de Representantes. – Lea más aquí
Join Representative Hirschauer for an end-of-session town hall on legislation, budget, community safety, and pressing topics of Illinois’ 49th District. Register with your topics of priority and your specific questions to ensure they are discussed that evening.
This event will be presented in person, in English, with automated captions available on Zoom in many languages. If you would like in-person interpretation to another language, please register by June 26 for accommodations. Automated translations may be inaccurate. If something seems alarming or out of context, please contact our office for clarification and we will consult an interpreter to facilitate understanding of your concerns and Rep Hirschauer’s response.
Register below. Zoom links will be sent the day of the event.
Acompañe a la Representante Hirschauer en una reunión pública a fin de sesión sobre legislación, presupuesto, seguridad comunitaria y temas urgentes del Distrito 49 de Illinois. Inscríbase con sus temas prioritarios y sus preguntas específicas para asegurarse de que se aborden esa noche.
Este evento se presentará en inglés con subtítulos automáticos disponibles en varios idiomas. Si desea interpretación en persona a otro idioma, registraste antes del 26 de junio para realizar adaptaciones. Las traducciones automáticas pueden ser inexactas. Si algo le parece alarmante o fuera de contexto, comuníquese con nuestra oficina para obtener una aclaración y consultaremos con un intérprete para facilitar la comprensión de sus inquietudes y aclarar la respuesta de la Representante Hirschauer.
Se requiere registro a continuación. Los enlaces de Zoom se enviarán el día del evento.
I am very proud to be the representative of West Chicago, a vibrant community in western DuPage County. In West Chicago we have a saying, “West Chicago has heart; West Chicago tiene corazón.” and in West Chicago we DO have heart: the beating heart of the community is our schools.
Our schools do more than educate: They feed hungry families, they provide mental health care, they create leadership opportunities for students and parents. They help solve transportation challenges. They support families facing food and housing instability. They truly wrap their arms around the whole child and the whole family. And because of that, they have earned trust in our community.
The reason West Chicago School District 33 has been able to provide these life-changing services is they receive federal Full Service Community Schools grant dollars. And let me tell you: those dollars are stretched, maximised, and poured directly back into children and families.
Then, just days before winter break, everything changed. The rug was ripped out from West Chicago.
Effective December 31, 2025, the Donald Trump administration froze $18,500,000 ($18.5M) in Full Service Community School Grants across Illinois. And over the past year, the US Department of Education has cancelled hundreds of grants, serving schools from Metropolis to Chicago. Schools that depend on this funding to serve our most vulnerable children.
These are not items on a spreadsheet. These are children, these are our families, and these are real lives. This is not just happening in West Chicago, it is happening from Southern Illinois all the way to Northern Illinois.
Let’s be clear: feeding a hungry child is not political. Providing mental health care is not ideological. Helping a student learn English is not controversial. And offering after-school tutoring is not radical. It is compassionate. It is responsible. And it is necessary.
This is not fiscal responsibility. This is abandonment.
We call on Congress to release every single dollar of Congressionally-approved funding for Illinois children.
We are not turning our backs on our kids here in Illinois. If Washington refuses to stand up for our families, we will stand up for ourselves. We will fight for our schools. We will fight for our communities. And we will fight for every child’s and family’s right to opportunity. That’s whaty HB5362 and HB5363 are so important: so as a state we can continue to fund the good work that Illinois’ schools are doing. Because in Illinois we do not balance our budget on the backs of families and children.
Rep. Maura Hirschauer
(D-Batavia) 49th District
Springfield Office: 270-S Stratton Office Building Springfield, IL 62706 (217) 782-1653
District Office: 946 Neltnor Blvd #104 West Chicago IL 60185
